﻿PHOTOGRAVURE 
  49 
  

  

  RING-NECKED 
  PHEASANTS 
  IN 
  EASTERN 
  CHINA 
  

   Phasianus 
  colchicus 
  pallasi 
  Rothschild 
  

  

  The 
  pheasants 
  of 
  north-eastern 
  China 
  come 
  down 
  once 
  a 
  day 
  to 
  the 
  rivers 
  or 
  creeks 
  to 
  drink, 
  and 
  

   then 
  make 
  their 
  way 
  back 
  to 
  the 
  rolling 
  grassy 
  slopes 
  where 
  they 
  nest 
  and 
  roost. 
  

  

  There 
  were 
  two 
  nests 
  of 
  Ring-necked 
  Pheasants 
  in 
  the 
  grassy 
  tangle 
  foreground 
  of 
  the 
  central 
  

   photograph. 
  

  

  A 
  full-grown 
  cock 
  pheasant 
  is 
  hidden 
  in 
  the 
  centre 
  of 
  the 
  lower 
  photograph, 
  the 
  beak, 
  white 
  collar, 
  

   back 
  and 
  upward-pointing 
  tail 
  feathers 
  distinguishable. 
  Although 
  so 
  brilliantly 
  coloured, 
  yet 
  when 
  partially 
  

   hidden 
  by 
  the 
  grass 
  its 
  patterns 
  and 
  hues 
  merged 
  perfectly 
  with 
  the 
  lights 
  and 
  shadows 
  of 
  the 
  vegetation. 
  

   The 
  bird 
  did 
  not 
  flush 
  until 
  approached 
  within 
  a 
  few 
  yards, 
  when 
  it 
  rose 
  with 
  a 
  roar 
  of 
  wings, 
  shot 
  almost 
  

   straight 
  upward 
  for 
  thirty 
  feet, 
  and 
  then 
  off 
  along 
  the 
  hill 
  in 
  the 
  central 
  photograph. 
  Two 
  hens 
  were 
  

   sitting 
  on 
  eggs 
  close 
  by. 
  

  

  